On 21 March, the World Down Syndrome Day, the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan met the children and parents of "Arev-Children" Children's Health and Development Center NGO.
Arman Tatoyan noted that we must destroy stereotypes about people with Down syndrome through information, and make efforts to reveal their abilities so that they become full members of society.
Children with Down syndrome should be trained in independent living skills, their potential should be assessed and any type of isolation should be excluded.
The Human Rights Defender has become acquainted with the children in the territory of the Holy Zoravor Astvatsatsin Church, talked about their preferences and daily life, and also presented them with books on their rights, as well as stationery.
On the same day, a meeting took place at the Human Rights Defender's Office with the members of "Arev-Children" Children's Health and Development Center NGO.
Parents and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NGO, priest Grigor Grigoryan raised issues of people with Down syndrome in our country, starting with stereotypes, and ranging to administration in the issue of free medical treatment to the lack of specialists working on the development of their abilities.
The Human Rights Defender expressed his readiness to assist in resolving the aforementioned issues.
As a reminder, since the 2012 UN initiative, Down Syndrome Day is celebrated.
The number 21 was not chosen at random: The 21st chromosome is the cause of this syndrome.
Down syndrome was first described by scientist John Langdon Down in 1886.
According to the statistics, one among 700-800 newborns is born with Down syndrome.
The presence of this syndrome is not contingent on the parent's lifestyle, their health, nutrition, well-being, or nationality.
There are no independent statistics on people with similar syndromes in Armenia.